Evaluating the effect of dome geometry on acoustical quality of a pavilion

Abstract

Acoustic performance of structures is an emerging field of research enquiry, with limited number of studies conducted in the Indian context. To address this gap, this study examines the effect of varied dome geometry on the acoustic quality of a pavilion. In-situ measurements pertaining to energy decay curve from impulse sound were collated at a historical 'Baradari'. The square shaped pavilion considered in the study is surmounted by a shallow dome and has three doorways on each side. Virtual simulation models of the pavilion were built thereafter and validated. In this study, dome geometries that emerged between the 15th-19th century (corbelled, shallow, single-shell, bulbous, and onion) in the Indian subcontinent are examined. Acoustic simulation was conducted on treble software to assess and compare the sound quality of each dome geometry. The study found that the reverberation, RT30, for the flat dome was approximately half to that of the single-shell dome. The study established that the choice of dome geometry is crucial as it impacts the reverberation time. The study findings vary with building typology, size, and architectural features. Nevertheless, this study should be viewed as a case-specific analysis that identifies optimal dome geometry for improved pavilion acoustics.